Apparatus for opening and emptying



` J. c. WAHL 42,386,152

APPARATUS FOR OPENING ANDEMPTYING CAPPED BTTLES Oct. 2, 1945.

6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 24, 1941.

4 INVENTOR. v Job/7 Wa/ er Oct. 2, 1945. J. C. WAHL 2,386,152

- 4 APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND EMPTYING' CAPPED BTTLS V Filed sept. 24, 1941 6 sheets-sheet :a4

Illlll www 051., l

INVENTORv .da/7A 6'. Wa/

ocn'z, 1945. LJ. c. WAHL 2,386,152

APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND EMP'IYING CAPPED BOTTLES `Filed Sept. 24, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 MPJ INVENTOR AT T ORNE K Oct. 2, 1945. J. c. WAHL.

APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND EMPTYING CAPPED BOTTLES Filed sept. 24, 1941 e sneetsshee`t 5 i 0 f K INVENTOR. i

jlTTOHNEY.

ocnz, 1945. J. c. WAHL 2,386,152

APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND EMPTYING CAPPED BOTTLES Filed Sept. 24, 1941. Sheets-Sheet 6 INvENrolL 0h/f Wd/f/ y @5mm/EY.

Patented Oct. 2,V 1945 APPARATUS Fon OPENING AND ElvrPTvING4 o'APPEn BOTTLES John o. Wahl, chicago, 111., assignorto c. Earl fHov'ey, Kansas City, Mo., as trustee l Applicationseptember 24, 1941, serial Nailalse 14 claims. (01225-41) This' invenion relates to vending equipment for the contents of capped bottles, and has for its primary object the `provision of apparatus Vfor opening and emptying capped bottles in vsuccession, automatically and through the employment of a single source of power, operable, if desired,A

by the deposit of a coin, token or the like, into the machine Where mechanism embodyingthe invention is present; p

One of the important aims of this invention is the `provision'of apparatus forhandling fbottled goods that is capable of positioning a capped bottle, automatically removing the cap from the bottle as the same remains in a vertical,V upright position, and thereafter automatically tipping the bottle in order that the contents thereof might be emptied into a chaser. Y. .Y

A yet further aimof this invention is the pro-- vision of apparatus of the aforementioned character, having as a partthereof, means for succes-r sively presenting each of a number of vertically disposed bottles `below a decapper, causing the decapper to remove the bottle cap after the same has been centered therebeneath, tipping the bottle to pour the contents therefrom into a suitable receptacle, and lowering said receptacle with the Vmouth of the tipped bottle, to maintain constant the .distance between bottle and receptacle during the time the bottle is moving through its down# ward path of travel.

Another important aim of this invention is `to provide a vending machine having means forcarrying a plurality of vertically disposed bottles, each in a swingably mounted carrier,means for decapping the bottles in succession, parts for gripping the bottle at the neck thereof andr to tip the same toA a downwardly inclined position where the contents thereof is emptied, and thereafter returning the empty bottleto the upright position, for the purpose of maintaining the bottle in its holder through the tipping cycle.

This invention has fora yet further aim to prof, vide mechanism controllable by a single source of power for successively presenting vertical bottles to a decapper, thereafter gripping the bottle at the neck thereof, removingthe cap, disposing a container., simultaneously tipping the bottle and lowering the container, presenting a guard about the container to prevent overturning thereof, quickly returning the emptied bottle to its up,- right position, and thereafter raising the filler container to a pointwhere the same is available to the operator of the vending machine.`

container available'to the purchanical parts wherein is embodied conceptsV thereof, which parts are duralbly constructed, mounted in a compact manner for actuation by a single source of power, arranged whereby they :will not accidentally become maladjustedand designed to be housedl in a suitable cabinet capa- Ible of being usedcommercially as a vending ma-1 chine for soft drinksor thelike.`

I A Vlarge number of details of constructionernbody minor objects of the invention and such will* appear during the course of the following specication, referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein: f Y Fig. 1 is a side 'elevational viewiof the appa` ratus for opening and emptying capped bott1es,`

made in accordance `with the present invention and diagrammatically shown to be associated with parts 'completing an assembly capable of use' the direction ofthe arrows.. t

Other objects of the invention include the.l me- 5,5;

as avending machine. J

Fig.` 2 is a top plan View of the apparatus shown: in` Fig'.v 1, ventirely disassociated .from a. cabinet or other parts'of a vendingma'chine.

Fig. -3 lis a' side elevational view opposite to that shown in Figi 1. 1 1 i Y Fig. 4, is an enlarged detailed fragmentary seotional .View taken on line IV-IV ofFig. 3.

Fig..5 is avertical sectional view taken` on line VfVof Fig. 1-. 1. Fig. 6 is a verticalylongitudinal sectional View taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 isfanenlarged detailed sectional view through the decapper taken on line VII-y-VII of Fig.`2.v 'f 1 m q Y Fig. 8 isa vertical fragmentary `sectional view taken on line VIII--VIII of Fig. 5. l Y

' Fig. 9 is aV fragmentary sectional view taken on line of Fig; 8; looking in the direction of the arrows.

- Fig. 10 is` a similarsectional view taken on line XX.of1l=ig.V 8,.looking inthe direction of the' arrows. l 'i Fig.' r11 is a fragmentary detailed sectional View illustrating `the mechanism for arresting Inovement of the endless conveyor forthe holders.

Fig. `12 is afragr'nentary sectional View taken on lineXLI--XII of'Fig.' 11", looking in the direction of the arrows.` n Fig. 1,3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional `view taken .on line XIII-XIII `of Fig. 3, lookingin Fig. 14 is asimilar viewtaken on of Fig, rows.'V

Fig- 15 p une invxv `3, looking in thedirection of the ar- OFFICE;

isjasimilar View taken online of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. `16 is a fragmentary detailed view illustrating the mechanical means for operating the cut-01T switch.

The unitary manner in which the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings, is assembled, affords .a structurer that may be installed in a suitablecabinet. I8, but a fragment ofi is illustrated in Fig. 1, and which may be of conventional and well-known character. If the apparatus is to be employed in a vending machine operable by a patron upon the insertion of a. coin or the like, then cabinet |8 must have walls of insulating material and` contain. any known means of refrigeration for maintaining capped bottles 20 at a. desired temperature.

A rigid frame generally designated by the numeral 22, has a horizontally disposed table por.- tion 24 grooved as at 26 to provide a Way for an endless conveyor chain. 28, uponwhich.. is mounted a. number of. holders 3.0 through the medium of hinges 3:2..

This endless conveyor chain 28 is driven by a sprocket. 34 on spindle 316 journalled in .table 24 and having bevel' gear. 3.8. thereonin mesh with bevel gear 40l likewise; carried. by a portion of frame 22, whereorri's supported. stub shaft 4| havingi sprocket 42: pinned. or otherwise secured thereto..

sprocket is. engaged by drive chain 44 that passes over sprocket 416. on shaft 48 journalled for rotation in frame 22. This shaft: 48 has a. gear 5.0 rigid thereto inmesh withy a mutilated gear 52. on driven shaft 54. Driven shaft: 54l is. rotated about its axis through the medium ofl a train of gears comprising worm. 56, worm '58; on shaft 60.i and pin-ion 62 in mesh with gear 64. Worm 56 is. on drive shait 66 of moto;P 68 and the. said train of gears. are mounted as illustrated; in 6.. Immediately adjacentY `to mutilated gear SZ on shaft A is disc`1'0, a

portion of which is cut away; while the remain- Y ing annular periphery thereof is contoured to engage Geneva gear 12 mounted on shaft. 48.

Through the. mechanism just described, conveyor chain 28 is advanced in stepAby-step. movement to successively presentbottles: to al posin tion beneath the decapper, shown in detail in Fig. 7.

Driven shaft has a series of eleven cams rigidly mounted thereon, as shown in Fig. 5. These cams designated from left to right in said figure are A, B, C; D, E, F, G, H, I, J and K respectively.

Cams C' and F are related to dogs T4 and 16 respectively, each pivotally mounted intermediate their ends to frame 22 and held in posi-- tion with rollers 18 and 8-0 respectively on their lowermost endsin engagement with cams C and F respectively, by springs 82 and 84 respectively;

Idler stub shaft 8;6, around which chain 28 passes, carries. star wheel; 88 against diametrically opposite portions of which dogs 14 and 1.6 are urged by their respective cams Cy and F when a bottle is beneath the decapper and immediately after mutilated gear 52 has passed outv of mesh with gear 50. Cams C and Fare. contoured to insure that clogs .14 and 16 will be yWithdrawn from the position shown in Figs. Il and 1,2. immediately prior t0 meshing of gears 50 and; 52;

Cam'E controls the decapper, which comprises a. supporting post 90 'extendingl vertically from table 24 of frame 22 at the upper end of which is pivotally mounted a yoke 92 as at 94. The free end of yoke 92 carries a hood 96 having internal shoulder 98, a boss |00 and an apron |02 opposite to shoulder 98 that is fulcrumed as at |04 and yieldably held in normal position by a spring |06.

Hood 96 has a pair of substantially T-shaped arms disposed parallel to the legs of yoke 92 and projectingtoward pivotal point. 94 of said yoke. These. 'l-shaped arms. |208 are .normally held against tie-rod ||0 of yoke 82 by springs H2. Hood 96 is pivotally mounted to yoke 92 by pintle ||4 carried by the free ends of yoke 92. H36. pivotally secured to one extremity of arms |08 to one side of rsprings ||2, joins hood V9 6 to one. endof rocker arm ||8, pivotally mounted. on transverse shaft |20 intermediate its ends, provided with a roller |22 on one side for engagernent with cam Eand yieldably held in the position shown in dotted lines of Fig. 6 by a spring |24.

YCaru- E-has an abrupt. projection thereon (Fig. 6;), which` strikes. roller |22 tol draw both yoke and hood 92- and 96 down to the position shown in dotted lines of Fig. 1* Where shoulder 98 has engaged beneath cap |26 of bottle 2-0. After cam Ef moves yoke and hood downwardly over the cap of the bottle, hood 9.0' is moved about the axis of pintle ||.4` to tip hood 961 and gently pry cap |26 from its position While yoke 92 is rigidly held against. post 90:. A tie-pin |28 transversely disposed between the legs. of yoke 92 bears against post 90' to aord the rigidity needed. Immediately after cap |26 ispri'ed' upwardly by shoulder 98:, roller |22 of rocker arm ||'8 is released from the abrupt4 projection oncam E and the combined action of" springs |124 and ||2 quickly and abruptly jerk the yoke and hood 92 and 96 back to the position shown in :full lines of Fig. '7, whereupon the bottle may be tipped and the cap dropped from hood 9-6 to any suitable receptacle not here shown.

As the decapping operation, just described, is occurring, means for grippingV the neck of the bottle is brought into play through the medium of camsA and B on driven shaft 54. An L- shaped rocker arm having a series of pins |32 arranged in an arcuate path forengagement lwith the teeth of segmental gear |34 on stub shaft |36, is norm-ally in the` position shown in Fig. l, Where the horizontal arm thereof is in front of the bottle 20 about to be decapped. On this armis pivotally mounted hook having a pin |42 disposed a distance 'from pivotal connection |144 and extended into slot; |46 of link |48.

Link |48 is, like hook |40, pivotally mounted intermediate its ends atV to the underside of the horizontal portion of arm |30. While one end of link |48 is in engagement through the pin and slot structure with hook |40, the other end engages bar |52 ('see Fig. 8)-, mounted on the vertical portion of rocker arm |30. This bar has a notch |54 at its upper end to receive'roller |56 on link |48` Bar |52 isy pivotally mounted as at |58 intermediate its ends and a spring yieldably maintains roller |62 thereof against cam face |64 of member |66 pivotally mounted on the same pivotal connection |38 as is arm |30. Pin |68 rides in slot |10 ofmember |66 as arm |30 and memvber' |66 move relative to each other. Pin |68 is normally at the upper end of slot |10. Arm |12 of member |66 has a roller |14 thereon which rides over the properly developed face of cam B, as shown in Fig. 8.

When u bottle has been placed below the decapper and as cap |26 is being removed as previously ,described the gripping parts just -set forth, move into engagement with the bottle. Cam B forces arm |12 to the position shown in Fig. 8 to move the lower end of bar |52 to the left as viewed in Fig. 8, through the medium of member |66 and its cam face |64-so doing, shifts the upper end of bar |52 to the right, thereby swinginglink |48 about its pivotal connection |50 to in turn swing hook |40 around the neck of the bottle. Spring |16 maintains roller |14 against the face of cam B through but a portion of its length, after which roller |14 leaves the face of cam B and spring |16 snaps member |66 back to a normal position against peg V|18 carried by frame 22. l

This movement of member |66 back to the normal positionoccurs while the bottle is being tilted to pour the contents thereof and to a position shown in dotted lines of Fig. 8.

Throughout the tilting action the bottle is` gripped by hook |40. To tip the bottle, cam lA comes into play. The periphery of cam A has a 2|'4 on one end of lever 2|0 rides overV the periphery. ofcam'K and is maintained thereagainst by spring `216. The upper end of lever 2|0 is pivotally Vjoined to link 2|8 atits one'end while the other end thereof is pivotally joined to arm 220 on shaft 204. Thus, at the -time above specified, roller 2|4 leaves the arcuate portion of the periphery of cam K and rides along the straight section 222of this cam'to a pointagainstshoulder 224 tomove link `2|8 to theposition shownin dotted linesof Fig. 3. As soon as roller 2| 4 `strikes shoulder 224,`the parts operably connecting the cup feed are returned 'to their normal position. A cup |92 is dropped onto the platform |94 as previously` described Awhen platform and guard ring"|94 and 226 respectively, are in the fullline positions shown in Figs. 3` and 13 to 15 inclusive.

Platform |94 is carried at the free ends of parallel arms 228 and 230. The inner ends of upper plurality of notches |80 formed therein `and an abrupt arcuate, substantially radial surface |82 that is engaged by roller 84 on gear segment |34. shaft |36, arm will rotate about pivotal connection |38 andy will be rocked to carry bottle 20 to the position shown in dotted lines ofFig. 8.

'Obviously, the aforementioned parts for gripping the bottle will beA carried therewith. Roller |86 rides over concentric surface |88 of cam A when arm |30 is in the normal vertical position, shown in Fig. 1. As soongas roller |84 strikes face 82, arm |30 moves down to a substantially horizontal position and thereafter due to the contour of face |90, arm |30 gradually tips to pour the contents of the bottle. When roller |84 leaves face |82 of cam A, the mouth of the bottle is just above the lip of the container |92, resting in the hereinafter described platform |94.

The downward travel ofthe mouth of bottle 20 is the same speed as that assumedby the hereinafter described platform |94--thus, the constant distance betweenl bottle `and cup is main- When gear segment is turning about stub` parallel arms 228 are pivotally mounted `upon transverse shaft |22 for free movement about the axis thereof, while the inner ends of the lower parallel arms 230 are mounted for free rotation about the axis of another transverse shaft 232 journalled in'frame 22, as shown inFigA, for rotation about its axis. Platform |94 is secured to the bight of a U-shaped link 234 pivotally secured as at 236 to lower parallel arms 230 and as at 238 to upper parallel arms 228.' A A transverse rod 240 extends through upper parallel arms 228 and a substantial distance therebeyond to project through slot 242 of. rocker 244 and slot 246 ofv segment `gear 248. yBoth rocker 244 and segment gear 248 are mountedon shaft |20 for movement thereabout. l

'Rocker 244 has a roller 250 on the inner end thereof bearing against cam I. This cam I has a radial face 252 that strikes roller 250 for the purpose ofI lifting platform |94 to its normal position. Rocker 244 accomplishes this movement by having its roller either forced downwardly to a position shown in Fig. 14 and there maintained' until .tained until the bottle is inclined the fullestextent. At `this point, roller |84 jumps into notches 180 in quick succession to reciprocate arm 30 about pivotal connection |38 to shake the bottle and thereby insure the complete dislodgment therefrom of any liquid that might remain on the lip of the bottle. i

Stop |96 on frame. 22 engages shoulder |938 of gear segment |34 to arrest `the upward movement of rollers |84 .and |86. Spring 200 yieldably maintains gear segment |34 against this stop and lies against the surface of cam A over which rollers ride. l

Just before bottle 20 is decapped a cup |92 is dropped from a magazine 202 thereof. This cup feeding mechanism is of conventional character and the operation thereof to drop one cup at a time is effected through rotating a vertical'shaft 204 journalled in tubular standard 206 mounted on frame 22 and in turn supportingmagazine N202 wherein cups |92 are placed in conventional fashion. A pin 208 extending radially from shaft 204 connects with the usual feeding lever and upon actuation of shaft 204 a cup is dropped from magazine 202 onto platform |94.

This step in the sequence of operations occurs through the medium of cam .K contoured" as shown in Fig. 3 and associated with lever'2l0 pivotally mounted as at 2|2 on` frame 22. A roller said segmental gear? 248 has its forward slotted end lowered through the action of cams H and Gr.V V

A toothed member 256 pivotally mounted on stub shaft 258 is in mesh with the teeth of segmental gear 248 and has substantially radial arms 260 and 262 projecting therefrom at substantially right angles. A roller 264 on the free end of arm 260 rides over the face of cam H to allowparallel arms `228 and 230 and platform |94 `to drpp gradually from the `normal position as the open end of a bottle 220 is lowered during the tilting action. u M

A roller 266 on the side of arm 262 opposite fronfmroller 264, rides close to the arcuate face of cam G to prevent upward movementthus, as toothed member 256 oscillates about its pivotal support at 258, segmental gear 248 will oscillate about its mounting at 246. While these members 248 and 246 are servingv to lower platform |94,

4roller 250 is out of engagement with the face of its associated cam I. l The slow, gradual raising and lowering of platform 94 is to insure that the contents of a cup |92 will not be spilled. To insure that the cup will not be tipped orfbecome dislodged, guard 226 is'provided. The upper portion circumscribes the cupfslightly above amidpoint and when platform 94 is near delivery opening 268, the guard is in the position shown in dotted lines of Fig. 13.

Parallel arms 210 and 212 have their outer ends in pivotal engagement with U-shaped element 214, the bight whereof forms the annulus that circumscribes the cup; The inner ends of fparalici'. 2M and`2l2 are pinned to.- their rel. snective. straits; lll! and 222-. Laterally project-v ing pin 2l6 on, the parallel 210' adjacent. ca-In J.. passes. through. slot 2.18 in one end ofl lever'ZU on the opposite end ofP which isrnounted roller 282 that rides over the outermost arcuate face 284 of camJ'. Lever 28.0; is loosely mounted on shaft. |.2 9;. When roller 282 is riding overv face 2 8'4 of cam J, lever 29u is holding parallel arms 210 and 212 in thepoeition shown in dotted lines of Fig. 13..

Barallel arms 210 and 212 vare carried dow-n with. parallel amis 22.8 and 28,0 byfvirtue of transverse rod 2.40. carried only by'l parallel arms 2:28 being forced against the upper edges of parallel arme 21,0: when platform Milty is lowered' through the action.4 of; cams G and Hr. asv abovementioned.

Blatiorm |94 returns to its normal position.` just as; roller 282 comes into contact with surface 284 or cam J and there-fore, parallel arms 21:0 and 212 are, held in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1.3 when the machine is set' and 'readyior starting its oom-plete cycle.

Piatforrn |94 isopposite the. delivery opening l 2.168 and guard. 226l iis-*near the. lower end ofthe cup-and no interference is offered to.- the operator when-thecup isrgrasped.

immediately after the machine isv started by the dropping of' a coin as will be hereinafter Set down, roller 282 will drop from surface 2:84 to the. full' line position shown in Fig. and' the wordend will be ready for holding a cup after it, has been dropped on platform |94 by the.- cup delivery mechanism. When roller 2:82 drops from surface 234i. springs 286 extending between parallel arms 228 and 21o to the rear of rod 249, draws. the top ot parallel arms 21|)` against said roll 2410 to limit. the. upward movement. of guard 22.6'.v

From the foregoing it will be cleary that. when poweri's constantly applied to. rotate driven. shaft 5,4 all of the cams mounted thereon will, revolve therewith. and that the iol-lowing Steps in the sequence mentioned, will occur:v

Guard 2126' will raise above platform |94., a cup will immediately thereafter be fed as the gripping parte engage a bottle, decapping will occur as lthe bottle is gripped and the bottle will be tip-pcd as cup platform |94 is lowered at a set distance fromthe, mouth of the bottle.. When the bottle reaches its greatest ang-1e of inclination, it. will be shaken to clear the same of any accumulated liquid and then'will be returned to its-upright position. When such iS done., platform |94 will return to its normal position to lift.. the filled cup to. a pointadjacent to delivery Opening 26.8 and guard 226. will move upwardly with` platform |94 but will be arrested before the end of its upward path of travel is reached. Guard 226 will remain near the. bottom of the cup so as not, to interfere with deliverythereof. From this point on the cycle is repeated for the endless chain. having holders 3.0 thereon will have been. moved one. step. At thev initial movement. a. full bottle,V will be positioned beneath the de dapper. When the emptied bottle is returned to its upright position.. it is passed to a point. slightly to one side off the decapper hood..

re is. desirable to have. the. apparatus, startwhen a. coin is dropped and since conventional electric circuits may be used, only a diagrammatical showing is made to indicate that such expedient is. contemplated.

Goin chute 288 terminates near switch, 2,99 which. -llas the terminals thereof closed .to com- .pletea as, soon as coin 2.9.2 deposited...

A. switch.,A broadly designated byv the numeral 29.4 and having anjarm 295 yieldably maintained in place by a spring 298, is actuatedY by the moya. ment of one of the parallel arms 23o through the medium of a finger 309 having a dog 392 pivotally mounted thereon and yieldably held in the, position. shown in Fig. 16. l

When coin 292 is dropped, the circuit to. coil 3&6 is closed through the following circuit:

From line 308- through Wire 3.10, Wire 3I2, Wire 3M, coil 30.6, wire SIB to line 3I8. As soon as coil 396 is energized, it closes switch pointsV 329 and 322 and current is. supplied to motor 68 through the following circuit:`

Wire 324', closed switch points. 329 and 322, Wire 326, motor 68,. wire 328 to line 3I8.

As the operation of' the machine progresses, parallel arm 230 is lowered and dog 302 is de-v pressed by arm 29.6. Dog 3.02 liftsarm 29S on the upward movement of arm 239 to open switchl 2'94 which has heretofore been supplying current to coil 30.5 through a circuit as follows:

Line 398, wire 339, closed' switch points 332 and 33'4, wire 336, closed switch 294, Wire 333, wire 3M, coil 3&6 and wire 316 to line 3I8.

Thus, after a coin has been deposited, the ma- -chine will automatically continue through all of the aforesaid steps until arm 239 travels upwardly in its nal movement to deliver cup |92. When such is done, switch 29A is opened and the supply of current to motor 68 is interrupted.

The operation of the apparatus has been made clear during the foregoing speciiication and while many parts of the mechanism are well-known in the art have been specifically described, such has been done to render clear the novel combination and unique arrangement of elements embodying the broad concepts of the invention. It is realized that changes and modifications might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. Apparatus of the character described and for opening and emptying bottles, comprising a carrier for a plurality of substantially upright` ver-fv tically arranged capped bottles; a decapper disposed above the bottles;l means for.` successively locating the capped bottles below the decapper; apparatus for operating the decapper to remove the cap from the bottles as the saine are located therebelow; structure for tipping the decapped bottle to empty the contents thereoi subsequent to decapping means for interrupting travel. of the A carrier while a. decapped bottle iS ill tipped condition; and parts adapted to grip the. decapped bottle near the mouth thereof to prevent. dropping as the same is tipped to a downwardly inclined position said Delfts for gripping the. bottle being adapted to Shake the bottle after it has been tipped downwardly -for av predetermined length of time and while the movement of the carrier is interrupted.

2. Apparatus, of the character described and for opening and emptying bottles, comprising a carrier for a plurality of substantially upright, vertically arranged capped bottles; a decapper disposed above the bottles; means for successively locating the capped bottles below the decapper; apparatus for voperating the decapper to remove the cap from the bottles as the same are located therebelow; structure. for tipping the decapped `bottle to empty the contents thereof subsequent 

